Electric-current regulator.



No. 658,905.. Patented Oct. 2, I900. D. WATKINS.

ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

(Applicafion filed Mar. 28, 1900.!

2 Sheets-Shani I.

(No Model.)

[AVE/v TOR No. 658,905. Patented Oct. 2, I900. D. WATKINS.

ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.) Klimlodel.) 2 ShaetsSheat 2.

12 m? 6/ MUMT f/WEN TO 22 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL WATKINS, OF DAVENPORT, 1owA, AssieNoR or TWO-THIRDS TO o. J. RUYMANN, or SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC-CURRENT REGULATOR.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,905, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed March 28, 1900. Serial No. 10,527. (No model.)

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL WATKINS, of

Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Current Regulators; and I hereby declare that the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. This invention is an improved regulator for electric machines, and is especially designed for controlling the generator by novel means, whereby if the voltage rises beyond the desired point more resistance will be cut into the circuit and if the voltage drops too low the resistance will be automatically cut out, and provision is made whereby the parts can be adjusted to operate and maintain the voltage substantially at a certain predetermined point.

In brief, the invention resides in means whereby the current is controlled by a volt meter or indicator and a rheostat working in conjunction.

Theinvention will be fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the several general and specific features thereof are su mmarized in the appended claims.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view-illustrating a voltmeter, a rheostat, and rheostat-adjustable contactcontrolling device, and connections between these parts and a generator, whereby changes in the voltage are caused to automatically produce a variation in the amount of resistance interposed in the circuit of the fields of the generator. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the voltmeter and current-controlling mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the adjustable rheostatcontact. Fig. 4 is an end view thereof. Fig. 5 is a view of the adjustable bar B. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a voltmeter which maybe of ordinary construction, not necessary to explain herein, having an indicator a, by which, in conjunction with the scale a upon the face of the meter, the

hand end of the bar 6.

voltage can be readily determined. An areshaped bar B is secured within the voltmetercasing and lies just behind the indicator to, and its ends project through suitable openings in the side of the casing and are provided with slots Z7, which are transfixed by pins Z), provided with thumb-nuts 5 which can be tightened so as to lock the bar B in any position to which it is adjusted. The bar carries two pairs of insulated pins 0 c and E e, which are attached to the center of bar at opposite sides of the indicator at. These pins are provided with inwardly-extending spring projections C c E 6', so that if the indicator a swings to the right it will contact with both the springs on pins G0, or if it swings to the left it will make contact with both the springs on pins E e, the springs yielding in either case until the indicator a can contact with both and close the circuit between the two adjoining pins.

The pin 0 is connected by a suitably-insulated wire O to a screw D on the right-hand end of the bar B, and pin 0 is similarly connected by a suitably-insulated wire 0 to a screw d, also on the right-hand end of bar B. The pin E is connected by an insulated wire E to a screw F on the outer left-hand end of bar B, and the pin 9 is connected by an insulated wire (2 to the screwf on the outer left- Consequently when the indicator a swings to the right it will close the circuit between D O c (l and when it swings to the left it will close the circuit between F E of. The screw D is connected by a wire D to one terminal of the solenoid G, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire g to the positive binding post or pole A of the voltmeter, and the screw d is connected by a wire d to the negative binding post or pole A of the voltmeter.

The meter-post A is connected by a wire I to one of the main-line wires, while the meterpost A is connected by a Wire 1 to the other main-line wire in the manner that voltmeters are ordinarily connected.

The screw F is connected by a wire F to one terminal of a solenoid H in line with and directly opposite the solenoid G. The other terminal of the solenoid H is connected by a wire 7t to the negative post A of the meter, as shown, while the screw f is connected by a wire f to the positive post A of the meter. The solenoids G H are suitably constructed and supported directly in line with each other, and a tubular core J is used common to both solenoids. This core will be drawn first into one and then into the other solenoid, according as they are traversed by electric currents. This core carries the sliding contact J, interposed between the bar N and the series of contacts 0 0 of the rheostat O, which may be of any well-known suitable construction, and therefore not necessary to describe.

Of course when the contact J is moved to the left resistance is cut out and when it is moved to the rightresistance is cut in. This rheostat isinterposed in the circuit of the fields p of the electrical generator P, as will be seen, one terminal of the rheostat being connected by a wire 0 to one terminal of the field-winding, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire it to the bar N. Therefore the circuit through the fields is made through more or less of the resistance of the rheostat, according to the adjustment of the sliding contact J between the pins 0 and the bar N. Preferably this sliding contact is constructed as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, from which it will be seen that a yoke is clamped to the core J, being suitably insulated therefrom, and is provided with a recess in its upper edge, in which is a carbon brush j, which is pressed upward by a spring j into contact with the lower edge of bar N. The yoke is also provided on its under side with a recess, in which is placed a sliding carbon brush j which is pressed downward by springs f into contact with the contacts 0. By this means good electrical connection is maintained between some one or more of the series of contacts 0 and the bar N, while at the same time the least resistance is offered to the movement of the core J.

The operation of the device thus far described is as follows: If the desired voltage to be maintained is, say, one hundred, the bar B is shifted until it brings the indicator a to the 100 mark on the scale a, at which point the indicator should in the normal operation of the machine stand exactly between the contacts C and E. Now if the voltage rises the indicator a swings to the right and in so doing contacts with the springs O and c and closes the circuit through the solenoid G, as will be obvious from the connections shown, and the core J will be drawn to the right, and consequently more resistance-coils of the rheostat will be cut into the circuit of the motorfields and the voltage delivered from the generator will be less. If, on the other hand, for any cause the voltage should drop, the indicator Ct will swing to the left and will contact with springs E e and close the circuit through the solenoid H, whereupon the core J will be sucked to the left and the coils of the rheostat will be cut out of the circuit, lessening the resistance in the motor-fields, and conse quently the voltage in the generator will rise. These operations will of course vary accord ing to the rise and fall of the voltage.

In order to prevent too-rapid action of the core J,it is preferably made tubular, as shown, and its ends are closed by stuffing-boxes K, through one or both of which passes a small tubular rod 70, the inner end of which is pro vided with a piston 7t, that fits neatly within the core J, and at the outer side of this piston 7c the tube has a series of perforations 70 More or less of these perforations may be closed by means of a piston-valve L within tube 7t, attached to the inner end of a rod L, which extends through the end disk G of the solenoid and is screw-threaded thereto and may be operated by means of a thumbpicce Z to cause valve L to close more or less of the openings 7.5 The core J may be filled with liquid, so that when the solenoids are charged it will be prevented from going with a rush too suddenly in either direction, but will move against the liquid, which will be transferred through the perforations 70 from one side of the piston 70' to the other, the rapidity with which this flow can take place being regulated by the adjustment of the valve L.

I do not wish to limit myself to the specific structure of the device herein shown, nor to the application thereof to solely automatically control the current of an electrical generator, as the devices may be somewhat modified in form and may be adapted to control the voltage or flow of current in other electrical apparatus within the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination of a movable volt-indicator, a pair of pins at the side thereof adapted to be electrically connected by contact with said indicator, a rhcostat, an electromagnetic device connected with said pins and adapted to be energized upon the closing of the circuit by the indicator, a rheostatswitch and means for moving said switch controlled by said magnetic device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of a movable volt-indicator, pairs of pins or contacts on opposite sides thereof adapted to be electrically connected by contact with said indicator, and a pair of electromagnetic devices respectively electrically connected with said pins and adapted to be energized by the closing of the circuit by the indicator; with a rheostat, a rheostat-switch and means for moving said switch by said magnetic devices, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the movable volt-indicator, the adjustable bar beside the indicator carryinga pair of pins or contacts adapted to be put in electrical connection by contact with the indicator, an electron'iagnetic device and connections between the pins on said bar and said device whereby a circuit is established through the latter when the circuit is closed by the indicator.

4. The combination of a volt-indicator, an adjustable bar having pairs of pins on opposite sides of the indicator adapted to be put in electrical communication by contact of the indicator therewith, a pair of electromagnetic devices and electrical connections respectively between said electromagnetic devices and the opposite pairs of pins on the bar whereby an electrical circuit is established through one electromagnetic device upon the contact of the indicator with the pins on the bar," substantially as described.

5. The combination of a volt-indicator, an adjustable bar having a pair of pins on opposite sides of the indicator adapted to be put in electrical communication by contact of the indicator therewith, a pair of electromagnetic devices and electrical connections respectively between said electromagnetic devices and the opposite pairs of pins on the bar whereby the electrical circuit is established through electromagnetic devices, alternately, by contact of the indicator with the pins on the bar; with a generator, at rheostat inter posed in the field-circuit of the generator, and means for shifting the rheostat-switch by said electromagnetic devices.

6. The combination of a volt-indicator, a rheostat, its adjustable switch or contact.- piece, the opposite solenoids, the com mon core attached to and operating the rheostat'swiich, the pairs of pins or contacts on opposite sides of the indicator, the electrical connections between said pins and the solenoids respectively, for the purpose and substantially as described.

7. The combination of the voltmeter, its indicator, an adjustable bar beside the indicator, the rheostat, and its adjustable switch or contact piece; with the opposite solenoids, the common core attached to and operating the rheostat-- switch, the pairs of contacts mounted upon said adjustable bar on opposite sides of the indicator, and electrical connections between said contacts and the solenoids respectively, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination of a current-regulating device, a volt-indicator, the adjustable arcshaped bar beside the indicator, contact-pins on said bar and electrical connections between said pins and the current-regulating device, the circuit being closed by the contact of the indicator with said pins, for the purpose and substantially as described.

9. The combination of the volt-indicator, the adjustable bar carrying opposite pairs of contact-pins, the opposite solenoids, electrical connections respectively between the opposite solenoids and the opposite contacts on the bar, a rheostat interposed in the electrical circuit and the rheostat switch or contact operated by the solenoids, for the purpose and substantially as described.

10. The combination of the voltmeter, its movable indicator, the adjustable bar attached to the meter carrying opposite pairs of contact-pins, the opposite solenoids, the core therefor, electrical connections respectively between the opposite solenoids and the opposite contacts on the bar, a rheostat interposed in the electrical circuit and the rheostat switch or contact operated by the core of the solenoids, for the purpose and substantially as described.

11. The combination of a solenoid, a tubular core therefor, a fixed tube projecting into the core having a piston on its inner end, and perforations in said tube in rear of said piston, for the purpose and substantially as described.

12. The combination of the solenoid, the tubular core therefor, a fixed perforated tube projecting into the core having a piston on its inner end and perforations in rear of said piston, and an adjustable valve in said fixed tube for regulating the extent of the perforations, for the purpose and substantially as described.

13. The combination of the rheostat, its adjustable switch, a pair of opposite solenoids, a tubular core common to both solenoids and supporting the rheostat-switch, said core having closed ends, a tube projecting through the closed ends of the core having a piston on its inner end, and perforations in said tube exterior to said piston for regulating the passage of oil, all substantially as and for the purpose described' 14:. The combination of the rheostat, its adjustable switch, a pair of opposite solenoids, and a tubular core common to both solenoids and supporting the rheostat-switch, said core having closed ends, with a tube projecting through the closed end of the core having a piston on its inner end, and perforations in said tube exterior to said piston for regulating the passage of oil, a valve in said tube for regulating the flow of the oil therethrough, and a rod for adjusting said valve, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL WATKINS.

In presence 01' WILLIAM J. PUGH, PATRICK D. QUIRK. 

